How to Apply for Financial Aid

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. The FAFSA Federal School Code for Cuesta College is 001192.
2. Students submitting the FAFSA also have the option to complete the application using their mobile device by downloading the myStudentAid mobile app.
3. Select the IRS Direct Data Exchange on your FAFSA application in order to expedite the processing of your financial aid file.
4. Approximately 72 hours after submitting the on-line FAFSA, you will receive your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) to the email you have provided on your FAFSA application. This email is from the Department of Education. Review your FSS carefully. The FSS summarizes the information you provided on the FAFSA and will inform you if your application is complete, estimated student aid index (SAI), and if you are selected for verification.
5. Once Cuesta College Financial Aid Office receives your FAFSA application into the college’s system, this can take 2 weeks after submitting your application to the Department of Education; you will receive an email sent to your Cuesta student email address.
6. If you are selected for verification, go to your myCuesta Portal. Log in to view what documentation is needed. Complete the verification process.
7. If you are NOT selected for verification you will not be required to submit any documentation to the Financial Aid Office. You may, however, have required documents in myCuesta Portal to read and accept.
8. When all documents show “Satisfied” under all your required documentation your awards will be ready to view under the Award Tab. An award letter will be emailed to your Cuesta student email address.
9. Be prepared to pay upfront for textbooks, supplies, and other fees until your financial aid eligibility is finalized.

1. Complete and submit California Dream Act Application online. 
2. First-time applicants must create a User ID and Password, while renewal applicants can retrieve a forgotten User ID and reset a forgotten Password
3. Start an application for the correct academic year
4. Provide the requested tax & income information from two years prior
5. Add Cuesta College to your application using the School Code 
6. If you cannot answer “Yes” to any of the Dependency Questions, you must provide parent information
7. Electronically sign your application
   • If you are considered Dependent, have your parent electronically sign by creating a Parent PIN for first-time signers, or retrieving a forgotten PIN for renewal signers
8. Once you receive your CalSS (California Submission Summary), if you are selected for verification, login to your myCuesta Portal to view what financial aid documentation, if any, you need to provide
9. Once available, login to your myCuesta Portal to view your financial aid award
10. View the Disbursement Information to learn more about when and how you will receive your financial aid award.

The FAFSA is financial aid application offered by the federal government.

The FAFSA is only available to:

• United States Citizens
• United States Permanent Residents
• Eligible Non-Citizens

To receive federal financial aid, you MUST:

• Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen;
• Have a valid Social Security Number;
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent (e.g. GED, CHSPE, home school graduate—see Ability-to-Benefit policy for exceptions);
• Enroll in an eligible program as a regular student;
• Meet satisfactory academic progress standards;
• Not be in default or delinquency on federal education loans, or owe any federal grant money to any institution

To receive state funding, the California Student Aid Commission requires that you MUST:

• Be a California resident or have AB-540 status*;
• Be a U.S. citizen, eligible non-citizen, or undocumented person with AB-540 status*;
• Attend an eligible California qualifying postsecondary institution;
• Be enrolled at least half-time (6 units) to receive the Cal Grant;
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined at school of attendance;
• Have family income and assets below the established ceilings; AND
• Not be in default on any student loan or owe any federal or state over-payments.

Through submitting a FAFSA, you will be considered for the following types of aid:

Federal

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Work Study (FWS)
• Federal Direct Loans
• Federal Supplemental Educational Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• Federal Parent PLUS Loans

State

• California College Promise Grant (CCPG)
• AB-19 Fee Wavier
• Cal Grant (A, B, or C)*
• Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG)
• Chafee Grant
• EOPS/CARE Grants

Institutional

• Cuesta Promise (recent high school/GED graduates only)

2024-2025 FAFSA: Apply from now to June 30th, 2025. 

2025-2026 FAFSA: Apply from December 2024 to June 30th, 2026

*Submit the 2025-2026 FAFSA by the April 2, 2025 priority deadline to be considered for a Cal Grant award and other limited aid. (Note: Cal Grant priority deadline has been extended for the original March 3, 2025 date).

The California Dream Act is the name for two Assembly Bills (AB 130 and AB 131) that were passed into law in 2011. These Assembly Bills allow AB 540/AB 2000 students to apply for and receive state based financial aid and institutional scholarships. AB 130 became effective in January 2012, while AB 131 became effective in January 2013.

The CADAA is a financial aid application offered by the state of California.

The CADAA is only available to students who meet the criteria for an AB540 Nonresident Tuition Exemption. 

Through submitting the CADAA, you are only eligible for state and institutional aid:

State

• California College Promise Grant (CCPG)
• AB-19 Fee Wavier
• Cal Grant (A, B, or C)
• Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG)
• Chafee Grant
• EOPS/CARE Grants
   

Institutional

• Cuesta Promise (recent high school/GED graduates only)

2024-2025 CADAA: Apply from now to June 30th, 2025. 

2025-2026 CADAA: Apply from December 2024 to June 30th, 2026

*Submit the 2025-2026 CADAA by the April 2, 2025 priority deadline to be considered for a Cal Grant award and other limited aid. (CADAA priority deadline has been extended from the original date of March 3, 2025).

When submitting the CADAA, you may have questions on the process. Please see the following tips:

• An SSN or ITIN is not required to submit a CA Dream Act. If you do not have an SSN or ITIN, leave that question blank. If parent information is required, but your parent does not have an SSN or ITIN, enter 000-00-000.
• Under the Citizenship Status question on the CA Dream Act, if you are not a U.S. Citizen or an eligible non-citizen, such as a Permanent Resident, then answer "I am not a citizen or eligible noncitizen."
• The information you report on the CA Dream Act is safe. The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) released a joint statement with the Department of Education confirming that the CA Dream Act is only used to determine financial aid information, and it will not be shared with the federal government or used for immigration enforcement purposes. Additionally, the information provided on the CA Dream Act will be protected to the fullest extent of the law. Please review the full statement for more information.

AB 540 and its amendments AB 2000 and SB 68, are California Bills passed in 2001, 2014, and 2017 respectively. These bills allowed for students who are considered out-of-state residents in a CA public college or university to be considered a resident for tuition and financial aid purposes. 

AB 540/AB 2000/SB 68 Eligibility Criteria:

To qualify, a student must meet the following requirements:

• Attend a California High School for three or more years; OR
• Attend a California Elementary School, California Middle School, and/or California High School for a combination of three or more years and attained California High school credits equivalent to three or more years of full-time high school work; OR
• Attend or attain credits at a California high school, California adult school, and/or California Community College for a combination of three or more years (only two years maximum of a California Community College can be used);

AND

• Graduated from a California high school; OR
• Received a GED or passed the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE); OR
• Completed or will complete an Associate’s Degree from a California Community College; OR
• Completed or will complete the minimum transfer requirements at a California Community College for transfer into the CSU or UC system;

AND

• Are registered or enrolled at a California Community College or other California accredited institution of public higher education;

AND

• Complete a California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Form with the Admissions, Student Records & Registration Office

The Cuesta College Scholarship Application is a single application offered by Cuesta College.

All Cuesta College students are eligible to submit a Cuesta College Scholarship Application. 

There are over 100 institutional scholarships offered to students based on a variety of factors.

1. Visit cuesta.academicworks.com

2. Sign in using your myCuesta username and password

3. Submit the available Cuesta College Scholarship Application

2025-2026 Cuesta College Scholarship Application: Apply from now to April 2, 2025. (*Note: Scholarship application has been extended from the original deadline of March 3, 2025).

*Since some scholarships are based on need, students are encouraged to submit a FAFSA or CADAA if they are eligible.